We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Doctor Who to Return with The Bells of St John
Doctor Who to Return with ‘The Bells of St John’ – First Official Picture!
Doctor Who is to return to BBC One on 30 March in a modern day urban thriller announced today as ‘The Bells of St John’, as the first official image is revealed giving fans a sneak peak at what to expect from the epic new series.
Written by Steven Moffat, ‘The Bells of St John’ will mark the official introduction of the Doctor’s newest companion, Clara Oswald, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman. Having already made two appearances last year, the opening episode will be the first time fans get to see the Clara that will accompany the Doctor across the series’ eight adventures.
Set in London against the backdrop of new and old iconic landmarks, The Shard and Westminster Bridge, ‘The Bells of St John’ will also establish a new nemesis, the Spoonheads, who will battle the Doctor as he discovers something sinister is lurking in the Wi-Fi.
Steven Moffat, executive producer and lead writer, said:
“It’s the 50th year of Doctor Who and look what’s going on! We’re up in the sky and under the sea! We’re running round the rings of an alien world and then a haunted house. There’s new Cybermen, new Ice Warriors and a never before attempted journey to the centre of the TARDIS. And in the finale, the Doctor’s greatest secret will at last be revealed! If this wasn’t already our most exciting year it would be anyway!”
Featuring a movie a week from a ghost story to an underwater siege to a period drama, the new series will also introduce new monsters, as well as bringing back fan favourites the Ice Warriors and Cybermen.
Meanwhile the series’ stellar list of guest stars include: Celia Imrie; Richard E Grant; Warwick Davis, Jessica Raine; Dougray Scott and Tamzin Outhwaite, as well as for the first time on screen together, mother and daughter Dame Diana Rigg and Rachael Stirling.
Images courtesy of BBC Pictures
Melanie Jayne
March 31st, 2013 - 4:03amThe episode of the season Moffet brought back the Daleks. Could this be the return of the Master. Maybe Rory is the Master after all. With the run up to the 50th anniversary this could be the way he will bring the Ponds back. Next episode has the Queen of Time could this be Amy and there for the Masters wife. Guess we will have to wait and see.
Melanie Jayne
March 31st, 2013 - 4:05amNot the Queen of Time the Queen of Years. The girl who waited and Rory the man who never dies.
T4RD1S
May 14th, 2013 - 9:04pmThe girl who waited and the last centurian
😉
The TARDIS
March 16th, 2013 - 5:18pmWhat time will it be on? does it say yet?
DOCTOR WHO ONE
March 15th, 2013 - 4:10pmThey really should bring back Julian Bleach as Davros again, cos since the Daleks have no memory of the Doctor, it’s possible Davros could maybe restore their memories of him that the 1st Clara deleted from their memory, or at least give them his memories of the Doctor.
Then again, since they don’t have no memory of the Doctor, maybe for Davros it’s a good enough opportunity to finally take control of his creations once and for all.
The TARDIS
March 14th, 2013 - 8:42pmCool! Lots of new shots of new monsters, two looks at the spoonheads, cybermen and ice warriors. But if you look to the left of Clara’s head there’s something black that goes up diagonally. What is it?
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 7th, 2013 - 7:34amI’m seriously loving doctor who now. And missing it, why 4 weeks more wait! I’m in a mood 🙁
DOCTOR WHO ONE
March 7th, 2013 - 8:33amTrust me, I, and many other Doctor Who fan’s right now, know how your feel.
But don’t worry, these next 4 weeks will fly by quicker then you can shout GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!! 😀
Dalek The Supreme
March 7th, 2013 - 1:56pmI’m only worried I might not enjoy it as much as the first half of the season. I enjoyed every episode of the first half of the season, Asylum of the Daleks and A Town Called Mercy especially, and the Christmas Special was an improvement over the last one.
I have high hopes for the Cyberman and TARDIS episodes, but the first one looks like it might be a disappointment. Don’t let me down, Moffat!
mr
March 9th, 2013 - 8:59amGERONIMOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!
NO! It didn’t work.
Wait! I have a TARDIS!
Posted by: mr March 30th, 2013
WOW! It’s so cool!
Anonymous
March 12th, 2013 - 8:57pmit would be cool if some one who is the star of doctor who or is was chatting
davidtennant4eves
March 5th, 2013 - 9:26pmthis may be that I’m american but in one of the photos it looks like slenderman,just saying
The Ice Warrior
March 5th, 2013 - 10:06pmi know this will sond thick but whats slenderman
Scott the Raptor
March 5th, 2013 - 11:39pmA horror type character with no facial features. He has a close resemblance to the silence.
DOCTOR WHO ONE
March 6th, 2013 - 8:20amSlenderman is from a game called Slender.
The objective is to get out of some dark woods alive without running into the Slenderman, otherwise he ends up killing you.
lew
March 6th, 2013 - 6:33pmyour right it does look like slender :p
The TARDIS
March 14th, 2013 - 8:35pmA bit… But slendy doesn’t have teeth, and I can’t imagine him in a topper.
Doctor Who DVD Collector
March 5th, 2013 - 5:42pmI am really looking forward to this now!!!!
davidtennant4eves
March 5th, 2013 - 9:32pmso am i 🙂
Anonymous
March 12th, 2013 - 8:55pmthis is so hard to wait for.
Dalek of Doom
March 5th, 2013 - 4:52pmAnybody think two of them Monsters look like the Hoix and The Trickster? What’s that Pig like Alien?
DOCTOR WHO ONE
March 5th, 2013 - 8:57amSeeing as some of you guys have been saying recently that the Doctors new coat makes him look like the Joker from Batman [which I quite agree 😀 ] Ive just uploaded an edited version of the above picture of the Doctor and Clara on the bike, with the Joker kinda replacing the Doctor. You can view the upload on Deviant Art, just look for –
Doctor Who / Batman – Joker was here !.
Anonymous
March 4th, 2013 - 10:55amGood Theory ‘John Smith’, I never thought of a time lords first incarnation to work like that and thank you for not disregarding my theory about River’s Regenerations
This is gallifrey, our childhood, our home
March 4th, 2013 - 5:13pmMaybe St,John means John Smith, like the Doctor!
DOCTOR WHO ONE
March 4th, 2013 - 5:47pmSt.John can mean anything.
If you look up St.John on Google, the searches show it is the name of a restaurant, the name of the UK’s leading first aid charity [St.John’s Ambulance], a Church near the houses of Parliament, a reference to John the Apostle in the Bible, and also the name of a College in Cambridge, a Church in my hometown of Ilford, an institute of dermatology in Kings College in London, and also another Church located in Statford.
the astronaut of death
March 4th, 2013 - 8:01pmwell there is a st john ambulance sign on the tardis
cyberman2
March 3rd, 2013 - 6:45pmim sorry did i hear that right (well read that right) spoon heads? what the hell are those i also see they actually have spoons for heads
Dalek of Doom
March 5th, 2013 - 4:53pmTypical Moffat.
cyberman2
March 6th, 2013 - 8:08pmi know
DoctorWho4Eva
March 3rd, 2013 - 3:55pmI’m glad that Moffat has thought of intorducing some new monsters as well as bringing back some older ones (Especially The Ice Warriors.
Some great new designs here.
Can’t wait until March 30th.
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 3rd, 2013 - 4:03pmI want the zygons 🙁
Dalek Sec
March 5th, 2013 - 2:46amSea devils would be awesome. I also want something Daleky this year. 🙂
Dalek The Supreme
March 6th, 2013 - 11:04pmUnlikely since they just had a Dalek story, but I’m hoping for a Dalek season finale!
ForeverDalek2313
March 3rd, 2013 - 12:11pmBooboo you have put march the first up on the blue box (no joke intended). Is that right.
Anonymous
March 3rd, 2013 - 12:17pmWhat?
booboo
March 3rd, 2013 - 12:30pmthat when the post was made
ForeverDalek2313
March 3rd, 2013 - 12:36pmIf you look at the blue box at the top of this page, it says march 1st
ForeverDalek2313
March 3rd, 2013 - 12:40pmOh right I see, thanks.
Zero Antler
March 3rd, 2013 - 9:58amI wonder if it would be possible for the River Song ‘saved’ in the library by the 10th Doctor to appear in the WiFi story…any thoughts?
11matt
March 3rd, 2013 - 12:20pmno to soon after her last appearance
Zero Antler
March 3rd, 2013 - 5:05pmBut would be an interesting twist for later on.
11matt
March 3rd, 2013 - 6:15pmyeah i agree
timelord327
March 3rd, 2013 - 8:58amI’mnot that keen on the clothes the doctor’s wearing on the motorbike! It’s kinda cool though i hope it isn’t his new outfit.
cyberman2
March 13th, 2013 - 4:24pmtoo bad they are
John Capps
March 2nd, 2013 - 8:32pmI was beginning to wonder when the good dr. was going to come back.TV is so boring with out him on it.I’m glad.Now who are you really when will we find out what clues have you left to tell us.Just glad your back.
DOCTOR WHO ONE
March 3rd, 2013 - 8:55amhere’s my preference of favorite to least favorite Doctor –
3rd Doctor – Jon Pertwee
5th Doctor – Peter Davison
4th Doctor – Tom Baker
10th Doctor – David Tenannt
7th Doctor – Sylvester McCoy
9th Doctor – Christopher Eccleston
1st Doctor – William Hartnell
6th Doctor – Colin Baker
11th Doctor – Matt Smith
8th Doctor – Paul McGann
2nd Doctor – Patrick Troughton
John Smith
March 4th, 2013 - 7:58amPatrick Troughton… Last? 🙁 What did good old Patty do to you? And Why, oh why is Matt Smith third last? Don’t get my wrong, everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it just makes me a little sad to see them at that position. Oh well…
booboo
March 4th, 2013 - 8:01ameach to their own, i would have Patrick Troughton 2nd or 3rd
DOCTOR WHO ONE
March 4th, 2013 - 4:04pmSimple answer – I just can’t stand the 2nd Doctor.
For me he is an irritating incarnation of the Doctor, he has a pop at the 3rd Doctor [my Doctor 😀 ] in both ‘The Three Doctors’ and ‘The Five Doctors’, moaning about the 3rd Doctors look for the Tardis interior by not liking what he has done with it, and calling him an ‘fancy pants’, he acts like he thinks his the best incarnation ever when his around the 1st, 3rd and 5th Doctors as thou he thinks his the boss of them, and I hate his irritating “Oh my giddy aunt” catchphrase . . . . plus he looks like a right scruff compared to the rest of the Doctors, at least my Doctor always looked neat and tidy, not looking like a flaming hobo.
Sorry if this infuriates you or anyone else, but we are all entitled to our own opinions and all that 🙂
Dalek of Doom
March 5th, 2013 - 4:53pmMatt Smith is probably my fave Doc.
Dalek The Supreme
March 6th, 2013 - 11:08pmI don’t want to sound rude or like I’m attacking you, but Jon Pertwee acted like the boss of his other incarnations too. In fact, they all did except for Peter Davison.
My Doctors from most to least favorite:
1. Matt Smith
2. Tom Baker
3. Patrick Troughton
4. Sylvester McCoy
5. Peter Davison
6. Christopher Eccleston
7. Paul McGann
8. William Hartnell
9. Jon Pertwee
10. Colin Baker
11. David Tennant
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 7th, 2013 - 7:26amHow dare you put mr.tennant last!!!! You deserve to be imprisoned!!!
Dalek The Supreme
March 7th, 2013 - 5:40pmSorry, but that’s my opinion. I don’t think he was a bad Doctor by any means, none of them were. Most of it was down to Russel T Davies writing him as too human. Also, the whole Rose/Doctor romance was awful and disgusting.
j stephan
March 2nd, 2013 - 8:10pmDr Who will have to come to an end he can only regenerate 12 times
Who
March 2nd, 2013 - 9:34pmTrue in the 10th doc days but now matt smith has said he can as many times as he likes But if they stick with 10 doc idea he might come back in a new body like master so his regeneration s start again
Anonymous
March 2nd, 2013 - 10:23pmIt’s true that a time lord only has 12 regenerations, which means that they have 13 lives, but if you remember from “Let’s Kill Hitler” the series 6 episode, River killed the Doctor and then brought him back using her remaining 10 regenerations which means that she has no more left and she only used two for herself, it is highly possible that her 10 remaining lives were added to the Doctor’s remaining 2, which means it would be like he had a complete new life cycle.
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 2nd, 2013 - 10:42pmThis is false, lets face it, the doctors been through more regenerations then 11! He’s been a kid, and a teenager, he’s probably regenerated loads or times!
Dalek The Supreme
March 2nd, 2013 - 11:46pmOfficially, there’s only been 11 Doctors though. It’s never been said that Time Lords regenerate into adults or teenagers, and it’s been shown they can regenerations can age. How do you think the First Doctor died?
Anonymous
March 3rd, 2013 - 1:01amtimelords can regenerate hundreds of times as stated in the sja which is a bin odd
The TARDIS
March 3rd, 2013 - 7:56amWhat the Doxtor said in SJA was a joke, but in previous stories like the Creature from the Pitt the Doctor has been deliberately ambiguous.
the astronaut of death
March 3rd, 2013 - 12:45pmsteaven moffat was asked that at comic con in what would happen when the doctor uses all his 12 regenerations
and Moffatt said we will simply make something up
John Smith
March 4th, 2013 - 8:09amHere’s what I think about the whole 12 Regenerations and 13 lives thing. The Doctor isn’t just going to simply die. When he does reach the end of his 13th life they’ll probably give the show a rest for a year or two and bring it back again. Depending on who is the writer at that time they’ll either have an extremely complicated reason or they’ll set the whole finale for the 13th Doctor around it.
I would like to believe that the “River Regenerations Theory” is what they’ll use to explain why the Doctor will last longer than 13 regenerations but you never know. They could come up with a completely different reason altogether.
Also in reply to Alex’s comment I think that a Time Lord’s first life is kind of like a Human’s in the sense that they are born, will grow up into a child then into a teen, an adult and finally an older person. When their body grows thin they regenerate. This triggers a slightly different life cycle where a Time Lord can basically not age but will regenerate when their body is damaged or on the brink of death. As the Doctor once said (I forget what episode it is) “A Time Lord can live forever without bearing any injuries”.
I could be wrong so don’t hate on me!
DOCTOR WHO ONE
March 4th, 2013 - 4:54pmWell for one thing – Rule 1: THE DOCTOR LIES.
I don’t believe what he told Clyde in the Sarah Jane Adventures story ‘Death of the Doctor’, so rule 1 defiantly applies there.
From what we do know about regeneration –
A Time Lord can only regenerate 12 times, granting them 13 total incarnations.
Before the Time War, Time Lords could be granted a complete new life cycle of regenerations, so if you added a Time Lord used up number of 13 lives with 13 more given to them in a new life cycle, then you’d get 26 incarnations of a Time Lord in all
River Song has perhaps only used up 2 regenerations already as seen in 2 episodes of Doctor Who, and she then gave the rest to the Doctor, so by adding Rivers 11 final regenerations to the Doctors final 2, he should be able to regenerate 13 more times, allowing him to live up to a 24th incarnation – The 24th Doctor 😀
Dalek of Doom
March 5th, 2013 - 4:56pmThis all comes from Russell T Davies, no longer in charge of Doctor Who, who added this in to SJA, without probably getting Moffat’s opinion. Don’t let it get to you. Imagine the complaints the BBC would get if they said that Doctor Who is ending because of a stupid line, said in a spin-off? Seriously.
Rumplestiltskin
March 7th, 2013 - 4:53amI read somewhere that in the time War, each Timelord was given another cycle of regenerations so they will be able to fight without dying and so they can win the war against the Daleks. That last bit, to win the war against the Daleks, didn’t go down so well.
Dr Tom
March 2nd, 2013 - 3:04pmThe Doctors greatest secret is not his name it is WHO he is !
Dwr50
March 2nd, 2013 - 9:02pmThen what is it
john who
March 2nd, 2013 - 3:04pmThe monster in picture 5 looks like a hoix.
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 2nd, 2013 - 10:42pmAgreed
Dalek of Doom
March 3rd, 2013 - 8:33pmWhat I thought. Plus, one of the new monsters looks like the Trickster from SJA
ForeverDalek2313
March 2nd, 2013 - 1:12pmWhy are they calling the episodes movies.
crazy guy
March 2nd, 2013 - 1:39pmcause they call them mini movies cause this series they are trying to make them movie like episodes which i think they have done really well
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 2nd, 2013 - 12:50pmGod, not another one! First the trickster, then the silence and now these top hat creatures. They all look the same, what is the point?
Dalek The Supreme
March 2nd, 2013 - 11:49pmThe Trickster is normal humanoid build with five fingers, no eyes or nose, and a mouth full of sharp teeth, while Silents are incredibly tall and lanky, with three long fingers, tiny eyes in almost skull-like eyeholes, and a mouth so tiny you can’t see it when it’s closed. Still, those Season 33/Series 7 creatures do strongly resemble the Trickster…
Jelly Baby
March 3rd, 2013 - 11:50amI loved the trickster when he was in Sarah Jane!
booboo
March 3rd, 2013 - 11:58amme to
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 3rd, 2013 - 2:28pmYeah, but they do look all very similar, which I’m getting tired of. I mean look at the similarities between thee top hat creatures and the silence!
Scott the Raptor
March 4th, 2013 - 4:58pmThe only similarity between them is the colour of their skin. These creatures and the silence look nothing alike.
drwhofan4ever
March 2nd, 2013 - 12:10pmi have two questions.
q1. do we find out how strax came back to life since he did die in series 6
q2. if the doctor reveals his name does that mean that the show ends
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 2nd, 2013 - 12:51pmYeah, how did Strax come to life? Rory was a nurse, maybe he fixed him up?
crazy guy
March 2nd, 2013 - 1:41pmin the christmas special the doctor tells Clara about that and it said that a special friend of his healed him so it may be rory or vastra and jenny but there was a deleted clip explaining that but it has not been seen yet i guess it will be an extra on the dvd
Connor Bell
March 2nd, 2013 - 2:28pmYou could just say when Strax shuts his eyes and sighs in A Good Man Goes To War that he just passes out or has a rest or something, that’s how I took it. And ‘The Doctor’s greatest secret’ probably will be revealed but secretly to a character not out loud to the audience. He’ll probably whisper it in River’s ear, hence how she knows it in Forest of the Dead
Dalek The Supreme
March 2nd, 2013 - 11:51pmMy theories are that either the question is Doctor who as in who he is rather than what’s his name, or that his name really is Doctor Who.
MasterKasterborous
March 3rd, 2013 - 8:27amStrax’s apparent resurrection will be revealed in a specially recorded scene for the DVD release as stated by Mr. Moffat himself.
lew
March 6th, 2013 - 6:54pmremember what the doctor said in the snowmen he said that he fixed strax up but he has a short memory 🙂
outnumbered
March 2nd, 2013 - 11:38amrip of of primeval
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 2nd, 2013 - 12:43pmIts not an anomaly, its smashed glass…
outnumbered
March 2nd, 2013 - 2:35pmi no but it looks like one
Connor Bell
March 2nd, 2013 - 11:22amThis image will no doubt be the cover of the Series 7 Part 2 boxset
cyberman2
March 13th, 2013 - 4:31pmcongrats u are the winner on the guess the next doctor who dvd box your prize is the doctors name is now i reveal to u it is-(transmission cut off)
Zero Antler
March 2nd, 2013 - 10:39amJust cant wait to find out the full Clara story!
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 2nd, 2013 - 10:43pmYeah, I find Steven moffats little background stories really interesting!
John Smith
March 2nd, 2013 - 8:42amHA HA! The Ice Warriors look Fantastic! I’m glad they kept to the original design and they haven’t completely stuffed it up like they did the Silurians. For some reason I have a funny feeling that they’ll look slightly different in the actual episode. Guess I’ll have to wait and see!
Alex (www.tzwhoworld.weebly.com)
March 2nd, 2013 - 12:47pmI think the silurians look better! But I’m glad they haven’t changed the design to dramatically. I hope the zygons dont get completely changed when they return
doctor smith
March 2nd, 2013 - 7:49amlove the ice warrior. the bells of st john when you saw them in the trailer they went on the same bridge from the dalek sence